I have been playing a wee game this week – inspired by an announcement about an advanced research masters for artists and designers. It is very easy and very enjoyable, you simply read any academic call and say “making” instead of “writing”. Games with simple rules are often the trickiest, and I had to pay close attention so as not to miss a single “writing”. If it were a drinking game I would be pretty tipsy after just a paragraph! My game however created a wonderful sense of well-being and hopefulness. If only it were reality!
If anyone knows of a truly practice based advanced masters or PhD programme do let me know.*
My time in the studio this week has been spent making paper patterns for the ’shattered’ mirrors that will cover the placards that I am making for Tierp. I am enjoying the making and doing my best not to over think things. I am even trying not to over think how to secure the pieces. My meeting with Sten-Olaf at Möbeln was good and we have come up with what seems to be a workable solution. I am also pretty confident that we will be able to work something out even if our initial plan doesn’t work. If feels good to be dealing with real things again.
Having said that I have really enjoyed having a web-exhibition with MOCA London. And the responses to the show have been really good. It has been interesting to hear from a new, and international, audience. The whole experience has encouraged me to do something similar with Glitter Ball’s website and Instagram account. I have a few artists lined up and or in mind, and I am excited by the idea of being able to do things that would not be possible in the physical Glitter Ball space.
To see the web exhibition please visit MOCA London
The galleries at the artists’ club in Uppsala are re-opening. Obviously visitor numbers will be very limited but the majority of members want to get things going again. I am really not sure how I feel about it all. Although I too miss going to see exhibitions it still feels as though we should not be encouraging people in to the city centre. Uppsala remains one of the counties with special measures – which since Friday include not leaving (or entering) the county nor anything but essential travel within it. Under normal circumstances I would argue that art is essential but these are not normal circumstances and I tie myself in knots thinking about these kinds of things. I have been very grateful to have the studio to go to, I am not sure how I would be coping with just being home. And I have to admit that I find myself looking at what’s going on in other artists’ spaces more than I have done in the past. Last week I worked two half days not at the office but in the old courthouse building where ’my’ material store is. Having my hands on, and in, all that stuff made me realise how much I am missing doing practical workshops. I have agreed to do an outdoor children’s workshop for the artists’ club in early May – though I have no idea what I will do for that!
I popped to the studio briefly this afternoon to take photographs of two other shirt and tie pieces. Next week I am submitting them to a catalogue of contemporary art for regional and local councils. The councils have received financial aid to make additional purchases for their public art collections. It is a way of supporting artists during the pandemic. I am rather nervous about doing it but I am going to do it anyway. It would be fantastic if someone buys my work, and it would really mean a lot to me if it were a council. It would mean that the work gets shown in public venues. And being in a public collection in Sweden means a huge amount to me personally – in my mind it would really put me on the map of the Swedish art world. I love the idea that something that I spent time making would by chosen by someone working with public art and that it would a new home in their collection. Fingers crossed and thumbs held (as the swedes say)!
*I am just curious I have no intention of applying for any courses at the moment. I am enjoying what I am doing far too much to stop right now!
